New scoreboard at Calhoun preserves Gies' memory

It was the type of day Lt. Ronnie Gies lived for, and a way of life he would die for.

Dozens of Merrick residents, along with the Gies family, local government officials and members of the Merrick and New York City fire departments, gathered Saturday at the sun-drenched field at Calhoun to dedicate the new baseball scoreboard to the coach, father, and firefighter who died Sept. 11, 2001.

"Calhoun meant so much to him," said Gies' widow, Carol. All three of the couple's sons attended the school. "It was so heartfelt. It's home. It's Merrick."

Gies, a 23-year member of the Merrick Fire Department, served as chief for eight years and coached local Little League.

"The only thing Dad enjoyed more than [Calhoun baseball] was tossing the ball with us," said his son, Thomas, who, like his two brothers, joined the fire department. "He'd be screaming that we hit it to the opposite field, because none of us had any power."

The scoreboard, which sits in straightaway centerfield, was funded by the Calhoun boosters club - many of whose members had a strong bond with Gies.

"We've been talking about doing this for years," said Joe Tobia, one of the leaders of the booster club. "This is a really good thing. It will carry his name on."

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The scoreboard is fully automated, and shows the dedication just under the home team inning-by-inning score.

"This is the field and this is the place Ronnie loved most of all," county legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) said. "And he loved this time of year most of all."

For the Gies family, it was another testament to the influence of a father and husband that motivated his sons to carry on his legacy years after his death. Surrounded by her sons' wave of dark dress blue uniforms, Carol called the moment "tremendous."

"Of all the things, baseball meant so much," Carol said. "There's a piece of him here."